Apparatus for forming spring plates



Dec. 27, 1927.

W. H. FRATER APFARATUS FOR FORMING SPRING PLATES Filed July 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 $557 fails J Dec. 27, 1927.

W. H. FRATER APPARATUS FOR FORMING SPRING PLATES Filed July 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill A" a: or N t t H This invention relates to a new and inc proved adjustable form for shaping material and more specifically to an apparatus particularly adapted for torlning curved springs or similar articles.

Articles such as springs are formed by being; pressed to the desired shape while heated to a proper temperature and are then quenched While maintained in the desired shape. 'l Vhen so treated and properly. quenched they maintain the desired contour upon being released. from the torn]. Springs of this character are used. formed to a wide variety of contours. It is consequently customary to provide adjustable shaping means which may be adapted to :torni the various shapes desired.

It is obviously necessary for practical and efficient operation oi such shapers that the terms enpgagirls the material are such as to permit adequate contact oi the sprint being formed with the quenching fluid. l t here as is customary, the springs are formed upon circular arcs, the changing of the adjustment of the tlorniiup: elements fron'i one are to another is a len iy operatioi'i requiring great care since each "form element must be adjusted an, amount (littering from the adjacent elements.

It is an object of: the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus tor forming curved articles comprising a term consisting of a plurality of relatively ad justable elements together with means for simultaneously adjusting the elements.

lit is a further object to provide an. apparatus of this character in which the elements throughout their range at adjustment may be maintained in predetermined geometric relation.

It is an additional object to provide ineans of this character in Which the forming ele ments is maintained in enginee intuit an in cured thereto by bolts 18,

.t-IOAM A'U'TOPARTS 1101M.

serial No.

Other and. further objects Will appear as the description proceeds.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment oi. my invention in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan View of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

. Fig. is a sect-ion taken. on line 2--2 of l; and

l i". 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus, certain parts being broken away for the salre of clearness. I

The apparatus conuarises the tanl: 11 which i. adapted to contain the oil quenching hath, this tanlr being provided with the bearings l2iuto which are fitted the trun nions l8 ot the main :traine l-it. This frame is provided with suitable couuterbalanoes and latches for maintaining it in its vertical and horizontal positions. These elements torni no part of the present invention and have not been shown an d. need not be described in, detail. This main. frame 14: carries the sliding; frame 15 Which is fitted in the guide-Wa s 16. This frame 15 is in aintaiued at one liuiit oi its increment} shown i a his. 1 b}; springs 1.7. 'lhe frame 15 has adjustably sethe spring; ineni the flexible springbers it) which support forming member 20.

The frame 15 is slid lonrritudiuall of the main frame 14- against the rcsistaucc of the springs 17' by means at the arms 21 pivoted to frame 16 at and l']tVl1'lI the rollers 23 ennaqmg the edge 2st of the trams. At the inner in depressions and the frame is maintained in this position agaiinst the resistance of the spirit 17. n

The main trarne 14- has the cross member 26 upon which are supported a plurality oi :loruiinp; elentleuts These elements are held down by the renio vable plate 28. The forming elements as shown in Flames 2 and 3 carry the pin a 29 which are adapted tocontact with the ll'lfltel'lill to be formed. These pins are secured in place by bolts 30 and to the upper ends of these bolts are secured the springs 31, the opposite ends of which are secured to studs 32 carried best shear in It unit Off its movement the rollers tit till Mill

9 frame 14 and provides a plurality of guideways for the movable cam blocks. The blocks 38 and 89 ride in guide-way 37 and v are retained in the guide-way by the plate 40. held in place by bolts 41. Similarlythe guide-way 42 carries blocks 43 and 44, the guide-Way 45 carries blocks 46 and 47, the guide-Way 48 carries blocks 49 and 50 and the guide-way 51 carries the single block 52. The opposite side of the apparatus is similarly provided with blocks and guide-ways.

As clearly shown in FigureB the upper surfaces .of the blocks differ as well as the slopes of theseveral guide-ways. Consequently the forming member associated with each block is adjusted differently from the other forming members;

As shown in Figurefl, which shows block 38 and its associated parts, the block is provided on its lower surface with a rack 53 which coacts with gear 54 keyed to shaft 55. This showing is typical and each block is provided with a similar rack meshing with a similar gear carried by shaft 55. It will be understood that all of the guide-ways, al-

30 though differing in angle, are located on mfihgential to these gears. The shaft 55 is provided with a gear 56 meshing with pinion 57, the latter being rotatable by means of the squared shaft end 58. By rotating this pinion the shaft is rotated and the blocks are slid in their guide-ways and the forming elements are adjusted.

In the operation of the apparatus, the blank to be formed is first heated to the proper temperature and then is placed against the pins 29. The levers 22 are swung to force the member 20 against the blank and this member being flexible causes the blank to conform to the arcuate contour defined by the closely spaced pins. The entire frame 14 and its associated parts are now swung from the horizontal position in which they are shown in Figure 1 to the vertical position. This serves to carry the heated and curved blank below the level of a quenching bath of oil in the tank 11. lVhen'the blank is adequately quenched, the frame and associated parts are returned to the horizontal and the blank whichnow maintains its curvature is removed from the pins of the contact elements by releasing the sliding frame 15 which isdrawn to the position of Figure 1 by springs 17.

The cam surfaces upon the sliding eam' blocks are so related to their angle of movement that inwhatever position the shaft 55 may. be turned,- all of the elements will maintain their contact pins upon the are of a circle. The radius ofthis circle obviously varies as the shaft is turned. When turned to one limit of movement, the radius of the circle will reach infinity and the pins will be upon a straight line. The opposite limit of adjustment may be such as to bring the pins to an arc of relatively small radius,

such, for example. as twenty-four inches.

Each of the forming elements may be adjusted individually relative to its associated cam by loosening the corresponding lock nut 35 and turn ng the contact stud 33. Proper adjustment may be determined by rotating the shaft to bring the elements to their limit of movement at which they should be upon a straight line. The elements may then be tested by a straight edge and the proper studs varied to bring them all into contact with the straight edge.

This apparatus is capable of rapid adjustment to an infinite variety of circular arcs. While throughout the present discussion reference has only been made to circular arcs, it will be apparent that the cam surfaces may be so formed as to simultaneously adjust the various forming elements as to provide any desired relationship between the elements through their range of adjustment.

I have illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention but I contemplate such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

1 claim:

1. Apparatus for forming curved articles comprising a form consisting of a plurality of relatively adjustable elements. cams for adjusting said elements and a plurality of guioe means for the cams, the guide means differing in angle and the cam surfaces differing in form, whereby the form elements are maintained upon circular arc formation throughout their range of adjustment.

2. Apparatus for forming curved articles comprising a form consisting of a plurality of relatively adjustable elements, cams for adjusting said elements, racks formed on said cams, and gears meshing with said racks whereby the cams may be moved to adj ust'the form elements.

3. Apparatus for forming curved articles comprising a form coi'isisting of a plurality of relatively adjustable elements, cams for adjusting said elements, racks formed on said cams, gears meshing with said racks, and a common shaft for said gears whereby the cams may be simultaneously adjusted.

4. Apparatus for forming curved articles comprising a form consisting of a plurality of relatively adjustable elen'ieuts. cams for adjusting said elements, racks formed on said cams, gears meshing with said racks. a common shaft for said gears whereby the cams may be simultaneously adjusted, and guide means for said cams, the guide means and cam surfaces being so related that the form elements are maintained in predetermined geometric relation.

luIi

5. Apparatus for forming curved articles comprising a form consisting of a plurality of relatively adjustable elements, cams for adjusting said elements, racks formed on said cams, gears meshing with said racks, a 00mlnon shaft for said ears whereby the cams may be simultaneous y adjusted, and a plurality of guide means for the cams, the guide means differing in angle and the cam surfaces differing in form whereby the form elements are maintained in circular arc forma tion throughout their range of adjustment.

Signed at Detroit, Michigan, this 13th day of July, 1923.

WILLIAM H. FRATER. 

